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Enfield Town 0-2 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report

Enfield Town 0-2 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 12/2/22

 

Bishop’s Stortford won a huge game in the race for the play-offs and comprehensively completed a league double over Enfield Town on Saturday. The Blues won 0-2 at Donkey Lane to go within a point of second-placed Town and level on goal difference in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division. Ryan Charles and Frankie Merrifield scored either side of the break to secure the three points.

 

Ryan Henshaw rose highest from the match’s first corner, only finding Nathan McDonald’s gloves at the back post. Lyle Della-Verde’s free kick hit the wall, before Sam Youngs floated a cross in but over ex-Blue Jake Cass’ head at the back post. Charles soon made the breakthrough, from Merrifield’s pass, he drifted in off the right wing into the box and shot low into the middle of the goal. McDonald did get a hand on the shot but couldn’t keep it out, with defenders unable to clear the ball as it bounced towards goal. Billy Cracknell cleared after Mo Faal got his feet tangled and miss-controlled a through ball, before Johnville Renee’s cross was met by Ben Marlow’s head, but McDonald saved. Della-Verde’s free kick went harmlessly out for a goal kick, and a Marlow free kick from the centre circle was flicked on by Merrifield  up into the air and McDonald caught it easily. Another Marlow free kick was knocked down by Anthony Church – making his 150th Blues appearance – into Cracknell’s path, but he fired wide from 15 yards. Percy Kiangebeni’s cross from a short corner was headed away and Jack Giddens punched clear the follow-up corner kick. Nathan Smith’s clearing header fell as far as Marlow, who volleyed at goal but McDonald got down well to save. Giddens saved a long shot from Della-Verde, before he rushed out to clear a long ball, but Faal blocked his kick, but the sweeper keeper recovered well to clear away the second time. Charles nearly doubled the lead on the stroke of half time, but McDonald kept his team in it with a low save.

 

HT 0-1

 

Early in the second half, Jonathan Muleba fouled Charles in the box, with referee Harry Wager not hesitating in giving a penalty. Merrifield stepped up and dispatched it calmly into the bottom right corner, sending McDonald the wrong way. Della-Verde fired wide from the left side of the box, and Youngs headed over the bar from Della-Verde’s corner. Faal was flagged offside as he ran onto a lofted pass, before substitute Jonny Giles crossed to Charles in the middle but McDonald claimed the bouncing ball. Della-Verde couldn’t hit the target and fired over the bar on the half-volley, and Merrifield fired wide from 25 yards from a Giles lay off. Youngs headed over the bar from a left wing cross, he would have hoped to at least test Giddens from six yards out and unmarked, substitute Adam Cunnington shot on the turn but saw his effort blocked, and the follow up cross went behind. From a long throw off the left wing, Jerry Gyebi headed over and Merrifield forced a close range save from McDonald after pouncing on a defensive mix up. Faal ran down the left channel with Blues defenders expecting an offside flag which didn’t come, and Giddens cut down the angle and saved with his legs, before a goalbound header from Cunnington was easily saved, as the Blues preserved a clean sheet and a brilliant win.

 

FT 0-2

 

The Blues travel to Haringey Borough on Tuesday 15 February, before hosting league leaders Worthing on Saturday 19 February

 

TEAMS

Enfield Town XI

1 Nathan McDonald

2 Jonathan Muleba

3 Ryan Kirwan (Sayoud 68′)

4 Scott Thomas (c)

5 Nathan Smith

6 Jeremiah Gyebi

7 Percy Kiangebeni (Taaffe 76′)

8 Sam Youngs (Yellow card 59′)

9 Jake Cass (Cunnington 65′)

10 Mo Faal

11 Lyle Della-Verde

Subs

12 Kraig McLeod

14 Adam Cunnington (Yellow card 90+3′)

15 Bilal Sayoud

16 Lewis Taaffe

17 Elias Nichols

 

Blues XI

1 Jack Giddens

4 Anthony Church

5 Sam Robbins

6 Ryan Henshaw (c)

8 Ben Marlow (Giles 45+1′)

9 Chris Harris

10 Frankie Merrifield (Goal 48′ p)

11 Johnville Renee (Yellow card 61′)

12 Jack Thomas

15 Ryan Charles (Goal 22′) (Peters 85′)

19 Billy Cracknell

Subs

3 Archie Edwards

7 Jonny Giles

16 Ollie Peters

17 Mark Haines

 

Attendance 754